Bubble gun and holster therefor



5, 1950 R. LORENZ 2,518,627

BUBBLE GUN AND HOLSTER THEREFOR Filed Feb. 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVEN TOR.

MM I04.

Aug. 15, 1950 R. LORENZ BUBBLE cuu AND HOLSTER THEREFOR 2 sheetssheet 2Filed Feb. 7, .1946

e BIQJVENTOR. BY fz Q & 4M4

Patented Aug. 15, 1950 BUBBLE GUN AND HQLSTER THEREFOR Robert Lorenz,Denver, 0010;

Application February '7, 1946, Serial No. 645,392

This invention relates to improvement in toys and particularly to toysfor bubble blowing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy which can be readilyheld in and operated by one hand for the purpose of blowin bubbles.

A further object is to provide in combination with such a'bubble blower,a holder for such blower'adapted to supply the blower with bubble fluid.p

A further object is to adapt an air gun to use as a bubble blowing gun.

A further object is to provide an attachment for, or addition to, an airgun whereby such gun may be used for blowing bubbles.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

With such objects in view, all of which will hereinafter be more fullydisclosed, the invention comprises certain novel constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts as will now be fully describedand as will be defined in the appended claims and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top or plan view of thebubble gun.

Figure 2 is a vertical, central section of the same showing the pistonand associated parts in rearward position ready for bubble blowingaction.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view on same lines as Figure 2 but showing thepiston and associated parts in foremost position after firing, and

Figure 4 is a front end elevation of the bubble gun.

Figure 5 is an elevation of my improved holster with bubble fluid supplyand illustrating the gun, partly in broken lines, in position in theholster.

The gun is preferably formed, for convenience and efficiency, inconventional pistol shape with a handle 5 carrying an air cylinder 6,simulating, in both form and position, the cartridge cylinder of arevolver, from which cylinder tube 1 projects forwardly, simulating, inform and position, the barrel of a revolver. The front end of tube I isclosed, as at 8 but the closure is provided with a small central orifice9 adapted to emit a stream or jet of air when the device is operated ina manner later described.

The bubble assembly is mounted on the front end of tube 1 and comprisesa ring Ill carried between the front ends of bars Hv whose rear ends aremounted on the front end of tube 1, by soldering or other suitablemeans, as indicated at l2. It will be understood that the center of ringI!) and orifice 9 should be aligned with the cenrz Claims. (01. 46-8)tral longitudinal axis of tube 1, or parallel-theref' Cylinder 6 isprovided with a piston'lS whose the rear of the cylinder as shown atFigure :2.

Trigger I5 is pivotally mounted in the forward part of handle 5 as at H,the lower portion 18" forming a finger piece and the upper-portion l9"being provided with an arcuate slot 20 adapted to engage pin Mb carriedby rod M, whereby the retraction of finger piece I8 will move rod 14"and piston 13 forward to the position shownat The rear end of rod l'l'is preferably Figure 3. slidably mounted in a guide 2| carriedbyhandle 5. 1

Front and rear sights 22 and 23 are shown only; for symmetry andornamentation and form'no part of the invention. The usual trigger guard1 24 is shown for like purpose and is no partof the invention.

In operation the elements are in normal position as shown at Figure 2,the cylinder 6 being filled with air in front of piston l3. Ringjlll isdipped in some suitable bubble forming solution which forms a filmacross the ring. Finger piece i8 is drawn back forcing piston l3 forwardand forcing a jet of air through and forwardly from orifice 9, which jetwill contact the center of the film across ring l0 bending the filmoutwardly;

and forming a bubble in a manner well under.-

stood. The spacing of the ring H] with respect to the.- point of airemission from the orifice 9 controls the velocity at which the airstreamstrikes the film of bubble forming liquid and in order toaccomplish the results, this spacing.

must be within definite limits. The-spacing of the film of liquid withrelation to the point of air emission is such that the velocity of theair stream striking the film is sufiicientto form and.

project a bubble or bubbles forwardly fromsaid film but yet the velocityis not sufiicient to break entirely through the film without theformation of a bubble. In addition to permitting a control. of thevelocity of the air stream at the timethat said stream strikes thefilm', the air space be tween said film and the orifice 9 functions tonullify any suction effect which might bet-pro;

duced upon the back stroke of the piston, which suction might break thefilm and 'displace it,

In other words,upon thebackstroke of "the piston air may be drawn intothe from the ring.

3 cylinder through the orifice with said air entering the orifice behindthe film and without creating any suction against the rear surface ofsaid film. With the right solution and practice in operation of thisdevice a number of bubbles may be blown from the ring successivelyduring a single complete forward stroke of piston 13.

While the bubble gun may be used wherever there is a supply of bubbleliquid in which to dip the ring H1, its preferreduse is; as, a part; of;theg complete toy comprising the gun and a liquidcarrying holster now tobe described.

A holster 25 is providgd, preferably provided with a belt 26 forattaching the holster to the; person, the holster and gun being sorelatively formed and proportioned that the gun will rest in the holsteras indicated at 2'1? and 28a The; bottom end of the holster terminatesin a liquid, container 29 suitably secured to the holster preferablythreadedly as conventionally indicated at 30;,the; container beingsoproportioned and posi tioned that ring III of the gun will, when the.gum isseated: in theholstel, be suspended in. the liquid; 29w. near thebottom of the container so: asrtbebesubmergedthereinwhenever there isany substantial quantity of liquid in. the container without touching;during insertion into, with drawal from, orrest within the container;either the bottom, or the walls of the container.

'iihus; whenever-there isiany substantial. quantity ofi'bubbleliquid inthe container-thegunmay carried: in the holster and at any timewithdrawn for use inxbl'owingbubbles, afilm of bubble liquid: alwaysadhering to and" covering ring IO whenwithdrawn, thus rendering the gunready ion bubbleblowing, immediately upon withdrawal incur the holster.

Whil'e'I have illustrated and described manydetails of construction andarrangement of parts Iammotto be restri'ci'ied thereto and desireprotection: as well upon those equivalent or alternative structures andarrangements which will occunto those; skilled t'heart and which arewith-- in the spirit of the invention as herein disclosedthe spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A toy-comprising a handle, a cylinder carriedby=and forwardly of thehandle, a piston in the cyIindenhavinga piston rod projecting-rearwardlyfrom the cylinder, a. trigger carried-'- by the handle and operativelyengaging the rod-- and adapted? tomovethe piston to compress air inthecylinders aconduit ofsubstantially less than-half thetransverse area ofthe cylinder leading-for war-dly from the cylinder, the front end of theconduit being closed except for a small orifice in the centerof-theclosure and aring carried" by" the conduit, the center of which isaligned-wit-h tlie= lbngitudinar axis of the conduit and which ringis lspaced substantially forwardly from said losure;

In adevice as defined in claim 1, resilient: means: for normallyholding=thepistcn at the rear of-f the -cylinder.

Ina deviceas defined-in claim 1, said' conduitg being tube-like and"leading from the; upperforward end of' thecylinder.

4 Ina device as defined in claim 1, said rod carrying a stop and'acoiledcompression spring enclosing the rod and seated between and-againstthe-rear wall of the cylinder and said stop.

In combihationw-ith a device as defined claimvt, a carrier for saiddevicecomprising a case adapted toreceive the device and support thesamebyccntactbetween the caseand the device tained 4 elsewhere than withthe conduit or the ring, said case carrying a container adapted to holdliquid and to receive said ring within said container when the device isseated in the case.

6. In combination with a device as defined in claim 1, a holster-likecase adapted to receive and seat said device therein, the lower end ofsaid case being a liquid container adapted to receive therein the saidring carried at the end of said conduit. 1

7. A bubble blowing toycom-prisi'ng a tube having a closure with acentral orifice at one end, a ring fixedly associated with said tube andspaced; outwardly from said closed end of said tubethe center of thering being at the extended longitudinal'axis of the tube and means forcompressing air in the tube whereby to project a jet of air from saidcentral orifice toward the center of the ring.

8. In combination with a device as defined in claim 7; a. carrying; caseadapted. to. receive said device. when positioned, with said ring.directed downwardly, saidcase carrying ailiquid container at its lowerendandbeing adapted to. receive and.

support said device in. position with said ring: within. said container;7

9; A bubble gun, comprising a. stoclcand' barrel structure, a film:ofi'bubble' for-ming' solution supported at the end of the barrel on asupport therefor, combined means. within the stool: and barrel structurefor intermittently discharging bubbles from the film. support.

141; A- bubble forming gun comprising a. film support for abubbleformingsolution, self cone. means, comprising a pressure triggerwithin the gun for producing and. discharging, a

succession of! bubbles when. a film of the solution:

is carriedon the film supportzwherr normal. operating' pressure isapplied to the pressure triggen 11 The combination. with. a toy.- gunhaving means for: producing and emitting a stream: of air through itsbarrel, of: a bubbleiliq'uid retain.- ingmember mounted'forwardl'y: ofthe point of emission of the air stream and disposed in.

spaced relation tosaid point of emission, said member being adapted toretaina film of bubble liquid thereacross, the spacing of said memberand film with respect to said point of emission: of said:air-streambeing within definitive limitssdetermined'by -the volume andvelocity of the air stream, said spacing being such that when theairstream strikes the film its velocity is only sufiicient to form andproject a bubble fromthe member but'isnot' suffi'ci'ent to entirel ydisplace the film from the member without the formation of a bubble:

12'. The combination with a toy gun having means for. producing and.emitting a stream ofair'fromtheouterend of. itsibarrcl, of a.bubble.-'-

liquid; retaining member; adapted. to. receive; and retain abubbleformin liquid; thereacross. and disposed, inthe pathof theair streamthemema herbeing;- spacedrfrom the point. of emission of theair streamwhereby a free circulationof, air around and rearwardly of; the memberis, per.- mitted to. obviate any. suction beingiormed rear,-

wardly of the film on saidvmember, the spacing between said member andthe point of emission of' the air strearnbeing such as to control thevelocity ofthe air stream striking the film, such velocity; being suchthat'the air stream functions toform and project a bubble forwardly fromthe;

member'without entirely displacing thefilm with the formation of'abubble uponeaclractuation of the gun.

13. A toy including, a tubular conduit, a bubble liquid retaining membermounted forwardly of the outlet end of the conduit forreceiving andretaining a film of bubble forming liquid thereacross, and means forproducing and directing a stream of air through said conduit and againstthe film on said member, said member and the film carried thereby beingspaced from the outlet end of the conduit with the spacing of saidmember and film with respect to the conduit being within limitsdetermined by the volume and velocity of the air stream, said spacingbeing such that the air stream emitting from the conduit has suificientvelocity upon striking the liquid film to form and project a bubble fromthe member and at the same time, does nothave sufiicient velocity toentirely displace the liquid film from said member without the formationof a bubble.

14. A toy including, a tubular conduit, means for producing anddirecting a stream of air through said conduit and outwardly therefrom,a bubble liquid retaining member mounted forward- 1y of the outlet endof the conduit for receiving and retaining a film of bubble formingliquid, whereby the air stream ejected from said conduit strikes thefilm on said member, said member being in axial alignment with theconduit and being spaced from the conduit with the area between theoutlet end of the conduit and the liquid retaining member beingsubstantially unrestricted to allow free flow of air around the memberto nullify the possibility of any suction being created behind the film,the spacing between the liquid retaining member and film carried therebyand the outlet end of the conduit being determined by the volume andvelocity of the air stream, said spacing being such that the air streamstriking the liquid film has sufiicient velocity to form and project abubble forwardly from the member and yet does not have sufficientvelocity to displace the film from the member without the formation of abubble.

15. The combination with a toy gun having means for emitting a stream ofair through its barrel, of a bubble-liquid-retaining member comprising asubstantially continuous ring mounted forwardly of the point of emissionof the air stream and secured to the forward end of the gun barrel by asupporting medium which does not restrict the air stream, said ringbeing adapted to retain a film of bubble-forming liquid thereacross, thespacing of said ring and film with respect to said point of emission ofsaid air stream being within definite limits determined by the volumeand velocity of the air stream, said spacing being such that when theair stream strikes the film its velocity is only suflicient to form andproject a bubble from the member but is not sufficient to entirelydisplace the film from the member Without the formation of a bubble.

16. A toy, including a tubular conduit, a bubble-liquid-retaining membermounted forwardly of the outlet end of the conduit for receiving andretaining a film of bubble-forming liquid thereacross, means fordirecting a stream of air through said conduit and against the film onsaid member, said member and the film carried thereby being spaced fromthe outlet end of the conduit, the spacing of said member and film withrespect to the conduit being within limits determined by the volume andvelocity of the air stream, said spacing being such that the air streamemitting from the conduit has sufficient velocity upon striking theliquid film to form and project a bubble from the member and, at thesame time, does not have sufficient velocity to entirely displace theliquid film from said member without the formation of a bubble, and acarrying case adapted to receive said toy when positioned with saidretaining member directed downwardly, said case having a liquidcontainer at its lower end and being adapted to receive and support saidtoy in position with said member within said container.

1'7. A toy, including a tubular conduit, means for directing a stream ofair through said conduit and outwardly therefrom, abubble-liquidretaining member mounted forwardly of the outlet end of theconduit for receiving and retaining a film of bubble-forming liquid,whereby the air stream ejected from said conduit strikes the film onsaid member, said member being in axial alignment with the conduit andbeing spaced from the conduit, the area between the outlet end of theconduit and the liquid retaining member being substantially unrestrictedto allow free fiow of air completely around the member to nullify thepossibility of any suction being created behind the film, the spacingbetween the liquid retaining member and film carried thereby and theoutlet end of the conduit being determined by the volume and velocity ofthe air stream, said spacing being such that the air stream striking theliquid film has sulficient velocity to form and project a bubbleforwardly from the member and yet not sufiicient velocity to displacethe film from the member without the formation of a bubble, and acarrying case adapted to receive said toy when positioned with theretaining member directed downwardly, said case having a liquidcontainer at its lower end and arranged to receive and support said toyin position with said member within said container.

ROBERT LORENZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 851,782 Soss Apr. 30, 19072,118,748 Warham May 24, 1938 2,205,028 Bloxom June 18, 1940 2,393,039Gilchrist Jan. 15, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 443,657Germany Apr. 29, 1927

